Is my lone budgie really happy?

[chico]

Or is this just what i tell myself because she has (almost) everything on the budgie essentials list?

Olive is 10 months old and i brought her home as a 6 week old baby. My previous budgie rescue Barney was blind and had multiple health problems until he died at 6 months old and i was ok about taking on another bird in need of tlc.

Olive has turned out to be very healthy despite the grim place she came from. She's bright as a button, smart and clever, can talk, is friendly and devoted to me, as well as grouchy, bitey, stroppy and territorial and i love her very much.

The problem is i can't help feeling guilty that she is a lone bird.it doesn't seem right that she has no contact socially with anh other birdlife. If she had been a boy i would have got another boy to be a buddy. But i don't want a breeding or egg laying situation and i know that 2 hens housed together can be a disaster. 😫 i have considered having another hen in an adjacent cage, to provide bird company and chat, could she be a friendly neighbour to another hen, with both having their own houses? Does that sound reasonable? Tbh i don't even think Olive necessarily wants a 'friend'. But l think some bird company would be healthy?

I'm home 24/7 and Olive gets a lot of attention from me as well as the radio and tv. She has toys galore which she enjoys, as well as a lot of enriching activity feed items. So why do i feel it's still not enough? I have read all the 'does my budgie need a friend' threads here. All opinions appreciated, thanks.

[chico]

Yay finally managed the pics. 

[Loz]

I don't have a definitive answer. So I'll provide my experience.
I had Mr Hibs as a singleton budgie for several months. In that time, the bond between he and I grew and I believe it is now unshakeable. Later experience, with other budgies, tells me that the bond would not be strong had Hibs had a budgie friend at an earlier stage.
I'm lucky in that I am retired and have as much time for my budgies as I want. If I'd been working, I would definitely have worried that Mr Hibs was lonely.
It's my belief that unless you spend a significant portion of the day with your lone budgie, she'll likely need a feathered friend to keep her happy and healthy.
Just my opinion. Every budgie is different and I've been told that some are fine on their own. Without doubt though, a budgie needs companionship of one sort or another, throughout the day.

[chico]

[Loz]

Super-cutie!

[ffiscool]

I have had lone budgies. I honestly think it depends on how they seem, too. So way back I had Bailey, he was with me for 3.5 years as a lone budgie and he interacted, played, watched TV and was a talker and happy. then I had to rehome him and he went to where there were quite a lot more. He did have friends, but I think for a while at least, initially, he didn't realise he was a budgie and he had gotten used to just me.

Then I had Max, who was so interactive, ran and fetched a ball, put a foot on me if I was lying on the floor playing. But at times he looked bored. I was home all the time, so that was no issue. He, I could see, would enjoy other budgies. To be fair I did not have him as long as Bailey.

In my opinion, the fact you are there all the time and she plays, is healthy, I would say she is fine as a lone budgie. If you catch her just gazing or she does not play etc.. then possibly she would like one of her own..

[tweetiepiesmom]

There was woman on this forum who had a lone hen. She doesn't post anymore and her hen would perch in her all day, was very interactive and very playful. She was home all day so they got along very well.

I brought my Tweetie Pie home when he was 4 months old. He was from a large aviary with many budgies. He's a very timid and skittish little boy. He would jump at every new sound and cling to the cage bars in terror. After about 5 months, he would occasionally put a foot on my finger if I held some millet for him. He was just starting to play with his toys. Whenever I walked up to his cage, he retreated away from me. Because of his personality, I decided he was a bird who just needed a birdie friend. I brought Buddy home to be his friend. The two immediately became best pals and I've never regretted my choice.

As others have said, it really depends on the budgie's personality. Since you are at home with Olive all day to keep her company and she has bonded to you, it seems she will ok without another bird. BTW she's very cute!

[chico]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. It does seem like it depends on the individual bird doesn't it.

Olive seems to be cheerful and doesn't act depressed. As long as she has plenty of things to shred! But she is very keen to converse with birds outside the window and does like her mirror altho she's not obsessed with it. Its part of a spinning toy with handles and it looks like she enjoys the game as well as the mirror. She actually dislikes the budgie in the mirror, as she shouts at it with that loud angry budgie noise! I will think about acquiring another bird to be a neighbour for her. Also, I think Olive would have a much better life if she came out to free fly. But that is another story., l will make a separate thread for that.

[Loz]

Free flying budgies, if you can make their environment safe, are a delight for all concerned.
My flock loves having the freedom of most of the downstairs. You can tell they love flying. Unfortunately, my decorating project has reached the downstairs now so there will be some curtailment of privileges.
Looking forward to the upcoming free-flight thread ...

[ingrid]

She's adorable!

I think budgies are very adaptable to all sorts of situations. They are smart and social. It sounds like you are providing what she needs when it comes to socializing. If you're ever in a situation at some point where you can't devote as much time to her, then maybe consider another bird.

[Ichigotchi]

Jun 4, 2022 8:25:33 GMT @loz said:

I don't have a definitive answer. So I'll provide my experience.
I had Mr Hibs as a singleton budgie for several months. In that time, the bond between he and I grew and I believe it is now unshakeable. Later experience, with other budgies, tells me that the bond would not be strong had Hibs had a budgie friend at an earlier stage.

It was the opposite with me. I was nothing more than a food dispenser to Biscuit until his brother died. Then he became my best buddy (a little too best these last few days!). He's obsessed with me and my hands now. Having said that, I think if I'd got him as a solo bird from the beginning, he would have learnt human words.

It was the same with Cubbie, he had 2 cage mates until his final years, but he grew attached to me and let me groom him and used to call for me when I had to leave the room. 

OP, your bird is an absolute beauty. 😍